Hygienic Coverings for Purses and Other Portable Bags and Luggage

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a hygienic, disposable covering designed to enclose the bottom of a personal purse, backpack, satchel, bag, laptop case, or briefcase, thus providing at least a water resistant, sanitary barrier between the bottom of the bag and any unsanitary surface. Such unsanitary surfaces may include, but are not limited to, public bathroom floors and countertops, surfaces found within public transportation systems or transit hubs, or any surfaces found outside. These coverings will preferably be secured around the circumference of the bag by use of an adhesive and/or an elastic, and may be made of clear or opaque material. Finally, by providing at least a water resistant barrier between the bottom of a bag and dirt found on floors, countertops, or the ground outside, these covers also serve to extend the useful life and cosmetic integrity of the bag.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Application No. 63/024,586, filed on May 14, 2020, which is currently pending. The patent application identified above is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As the world gains a heightened awareness of the myriad types of surface germs, bacteria and viral particles found on high touch areas and surfaces, the need exists for an innovation that reduces the adherence of such potentially pathogenic particles to personal luggage items such as purses, briefcases, suitcases, backpacks, and the like. For example, a handbag's propensity to amass potentially harmful microbes outpaces that of an office toilet seat by a factor of three to ten. (First, “Your Handbag Has More Germs Than a Toilet”, Prevention, https://www.prevention.com/life/a20453020/purse-or-toilet-which-has-more-germs/, last accessed on 5/11/21.) Researchers established the role of personal luggage items as fomites in a 2015 study. (Biranjia-Hurdoyal et al., “A study to investigate the importance of purses as fomites,” Adv. Biomed. Res. 2015; 4:102.) There, researchers swabbed and cultured a total of 145 recently-used purses, finding that 138 of these (95.2%) showed bacterial contamination. The researchers concluded that “[p]urses from both men and women are potential vectors for transmission of diseases across the community.”

To this end, the need exists for an enhanced method of protecting personal luggage items from contamination with potentially dangerous bacterial and viral particles which, in turn, may lead to the accelerated transmission of disease upon contact of the personal luggage item with a high-touch surface. This solution should preferably not involve repeated wipe-downs of personal luggage item with solvents that may damage the luggage items themselves. Further, the solution should provide at least a water-resistant barrier between the personal luggage item and a damp surface, such as a bathroom counter or the ground outside.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Disclosed is a hygienic, biodegradable or recyclable, disposable covering designed to enclose the bottom of a personal purse, backpack, satchel, bag, laptop case, or briefcase, thus providing at least a water resistant, sanitary barrier between the bottom of the bag and any unsanitary surface. Coverings made of water impermeable material are also contemplated herein. Contemplated unsanitary surfaces may include, but are not limited to, public bathroom floors and countertops, surfaces found within public transportation systems or transit hubs, or any surfaces found outside. The disclosed coverings will preferably be secured around the circumference of the bag by use of an adhesive, and may be made of clear or opaque material. It is well known that items such as purses can act as fomites, transmitting infectious agents from one location to another.

To that end, a disposable item that can limit the transmission of contagions via personal baggage has great practical utility. A biodegradable covering may be an improvement over a recyclable item as it can be discarded anywhere in an environmentally responsible manner, although both options are contemplated herein. Utilizing an adhesive closure permits more flexibility for disposal, and for ease of manufacture. However, additional modes of closure, such as a drawstring or an elastic, are contemplated herein. Finally, by providing a water resistant or water impermeable barrier between the bottom of a bag and dirt found on floors, countertops, or the ground outside, these covers also serve to extend the useful life and cosmetic integrity of the bag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a woman standing at a public ladies' room counter, with her handbag 20 placed on the wet 15 countertop. Her handbag 20 is placed inside, and therefore protected by, the waterproof covering 10 disclosed herein,

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of FIG. 1, and the embodiment of the disclosed invention whereby a drawstring 25 is used to secure the covering around the circumference of the bag 20, Like FIG. 1, FIG. 2 depicts the disclosed covering providing a protective barrier between the personal luggage item 20 and a wet 15 surface.

FIG. 3 depicts insertion of the handbag 20 of FIG. 1 into the embodiment of the disclosed invention 10 whereby a drawstring 25 is used to secure the covering around the circumference of the bag 20.

FIG. 4 depicts a close-up view of the embodiment of the disclosed invention 10 whereby a drawstring 25 is used to secure the covering around the circumference of the bag 20. A drawstring 25 may also be used to secure the disclosed invention 10 in embodiments designed to cover only the bottom portion of a bag 20, as depicted in FIGS. 8-10.

FIG. 5 depicts insertion of the handbag 20 of FIG. 1 into the preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention 10 whereby the covering is secured around the circumference of the bag with adhesive strips 30. Adhesive strips 30 may also be used to secure the disclosed invention 10 in embodiments designed to cover only the bottom portion of a bag 20, as depicted in FIGS. 8-10. It should be noted that the disclosed invention 10 contemplates all commercially viable forms of adhesive 30 to secure the covering 10 around the circumference of the bag 20. Suitable adhesives 30 for purposes of the disclosed invention will be easily peeled from the side of the personal luggage item 20 upon removal and disposal of the disclosed covering 10. Any peeling or removal of the contemplated adhesive 30 should not cause any damage to, or leave residual stickiness on, the personal luggage item 20.

FIG. 6 depicts insertion of the handbag 20 of FIG. 1 into an embodiment of the disclosed invention 10 whereby the covering 10 is secured around the circumference of the bag 20 with elastic 35. Elastic 35 may also be used to secure the disclosed invention 10 in embodiments designed to cover only the bottom portion of a bag 20, as depicted in FIGS. 8-10. In a preferred embodiment, the elastic 35 is comprised of rubber, although the present invention contemplates any elastic material providing for a fitted placement of the covering 10 around the circumference of a personal luggage item 20. The present invention contemplates any mode of securing the elastic band 35 to the upper opening of the covering 10, including adhesive or stitched thread.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of the handbag 20 of FIG. 1 sitting within the embodiment of the disclosed invention 10 whereby the covering 10 is made of a clear material. Coverings comprised of an opaque material are also contemplated herein. This figure also depicts the point of contact between the bottom of the personal luggage item 20 and a wet 15 surface, at which point the disclosed covering 10 provides at least a water resistant barrier 40, and more preferably a water impermeable barrier 40. Although in a preferred embodiment, the disclosed covering is comprised of polyethylene, the present invention contemplates any material that can suitably provide for a water resistant or water impermeable barrier. Further, the present invention contemplates any commercially viable material for the covering 10 itself, wherein the material is recyclable or biodegradeable. The present invention requires that any material chosen for the covering 10 be disposable.

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of an alternate embodiment, whereby the protective covering 10 is limited to the lower region of the handbag 20.

FIG. 9 depicts a perspective view of another alternate embodiment, showing the protective covering 10 disposed on the lower portion of a briefcase 20, set on the wet 15 ground outside.

FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of still another alternate embodiment, showing the protective covering 10 disposed on the lower portion of a backpack 20.

FIG. 11 depicts a perspective view of a further alternate embodiment, showing the protective covering 10 disposed on a laptop case 20, whereby the covering 10 is capable of enclosing the entirety of the laptop case 20, so that the case may be set down on its side onto indoor or outdoor surfaces. Here, the two-way arrow indicates that the disclosed covering 10 can be pulled down to allow normal zipper function around the laptop case 20 shown, and then pulled up and re-cinched. 

What is claimed is: 1) A hygienic covering for a personal luggage item, comprising: a. a sack consisting of water resistant material; b. an elastic secured around the opening of said sack; and c. adhesive strips immediately below the elastic; wherein the user stretches the sack around the bottommost portion of a personal luggage item and secures the adhesives against the sides of the item, and the sack provides a protective barrier between the personal luggage item and any surface upon which the item is placed. 2) The covering of claim 1 wherein the personal luggage item is a purse or handbag. 3) The covering of claim 1 wherein the personal luggage item is a backpack. 4) The covering of claim 1 wherein the personal luggage item is a suitcase. 5) The covering of claim 1 wherein the personal luggage item is a briefcase. 6) The covering of claim 1 wherein the water resistant material is plastic. 7) The covering of claim 6 wherein the plastic is polyethylene. 8) The covering of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of rubber. 9) The covering of claim 1 wherein the elastic is comprised of a degradable agent. 10) The covering of claim 1 wherein the elastic is secured to the sack with polyester thread. 11) The covering of claim 1 wherein the water resistant material prevents the attachment of microbes to the portion of the personal luggage item touching an environmental surface. 12) The covering of claim 1 wherein the water resistant material prevents the attachment of viral particles to the portion of the personal luggage item touching an environmental surface. 13) The covering of claim 1 wherein the water resistant material prevents the attachment of dirt and grime to the portion of the personal luggage item touching an environmental surface. 14) A hygienic covering for a personal luggage item, comprising: a. a sack consisting of water impermeable material; b. an elastic secured around the opening of said sack; and c. adhesive strips immediately below the elastic; wherein the user stretches the sack around the bottommost portion of a personal luggage item and secures the adhesives against the sides of the item, and the sack provides a protective barrier between the personal luggage item and any surface upon which the item is placed. 15) The covering of claim 14 wherein the personal luggage item is a purse or handbag. 16) The covering of claim 14 wherein the personal luggage item is a backpack. 17) The covering of claim 14 wherein the personal luggage item is a suitcase. 18) The covering of claim 14 wherein the personal luggage item is a briefcase. 19) The covering of claim 14 wherein the water impermeable material is plastic. 20) The covering of claim 19 wherein the plastic is polyethylene. 21) The covering of claim 14 wherein the elastic is comprised of rubber. 22) The covering of claim 14 wherein the elastic is comprised of a degradable agent. 23) The covering of claim 14 wherein the elastic is secured to the sack with polyester thread. 24) The covering of claim 14 wherein the water impermeable material prevents the attachment of microbes to the portion of the personal luggage item touching an environmental surface. 25) The covering of claim 14 wherein the water impermeable material prevents the attachment of viral particles to the portion of the personal luggage item touching an environmental surface. 26) The covering of claim 14 wherein the water impermeable material prevents the attachment of dirt and grime to the portion of the personal luggage item touching an environmental surface. 27) The covering of claim 1 wherein the covering is recyclable. 28) The covering of claim 14 wherein the covering is recyclable. 29) The covering of claim 1 wherein the covering is biodegradable. 30) The covering of claim 14 wherein the covering is biodegradable. 31) The covering of claim 1 wherein the sack is made of a clear material. 32) The covering of claim 14 wherein the sack is made of a clear material. 33) The covering of claim 1 wherein the sack is made of an opaque material. 34) The covering of claim 14 wherein the sack is made of an opaque material. 